Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-08
THE S%ENATORSHIP.
4 West Nirginian" Expresses some Point
ri Remarks on the Question.

WEST N~irgtntan' Expresses some fOlnt-
eel Remarks IN the Question.
70 he Ettipr oftbs Register.
IfyOu can, please define what q mOnOp-
olist is? By zeal, energy and thrift a nan
lays the foundation, for a fortune and makes
it. He employs it in the construction Of
a large manufacturing interest, say of iron,
glass OF agricultural implements, and gives
employment to hundreds or thousands OF
men; the town and country in his locality
improve; the labOreTs have employment,
the wants OF the people are supplied, and
prosperity extends with his enterprise. Is
he a mOnOpOliSt? Is he, so far, u mOnOp-
oliSt in any invidiOus sense OF the term?
lie has improved all the con-
ditiOns Of his locality by
his enterprise, and as far us he induces
other men by his success to follow his eN-
ample, he increases the prosperity of his
country. The same is true OF PARTNER
ships and corporations rs long Is they con-
tine themselves TO the legitimate business
which they have entered upon, and con-
Quoted their various enterprises. 1t is
only when such men or bodies of men en-
ter the halls of legislation and ask for aud
obtain bOuntieS, and special class-leSisla-
ton that gives them what is denied to, or
taken from the people unwiscly, unjustly,
md exclusively that they are monopolists.
TIP to the point of such legislative
interference, such individuals, part
nerships, and cOrpOratOrs are public bene-
factors. Partnerships are formed because
legitimate business cln be instituted and
I =. Al.l 1870 ,,.lt,l, nArnll
not be done by individuals, both for the
mant of individual means, and because OF
the necessity Tor securing the cooperative
labor of the partners, and the proper com
binatiOn of their capital. Corporations are
only partnerships, and were instituted to
accomplish the same results, and to pro-
tect men who did not wish to be actively
engaged i'm business, but were willing to
invest their funds to aid In conducting the
business, and promote the welfare OF their
communities, and was further for the protec-
ZION of the funds of widows and orphans,
Who or whose friends could make invest
nents for them in such enterprises. Does
he history of Virginia or West Virginia
show an instance OF class legislation Ia
Is in itself inimical to- the prosperity Of
these States? Then we ut least have no
such monopOlists among us.
But 10 the rapid growth of the wealthOf
the country, and in the imprOyident eN-
penditure of public money, and the con
StruetiOn OF unprodnetive canals and roads,
and railroads, and 81 the creation OF State
debts there are ~mOnOpolists who have got
ten possession OF much OF these State secur-
tiles ut nominal sums (say five to ten
cents on the dollar and they
wish, contrary Ia all Justice
and equity, to make those who received
none Of the benefits for which the debt was
created, pay the full amount OF the same.
Twelve or fifteen millions of such paper
Obligations are in the hands OF syndicate
who are openly engaged in this netarlouS
transaction. and who have just had their
securities quoted inthe market at advanced
priees-aS if they were just on the eve OF
securing their lien on the property and
taxes of the people OF West Virginia. They
eek 10 ret possession of the legislation Of
West Virginia to carry their scheme into
execution. Is not this monopoly with i
vengeance? Ii will take huge Investment
of capital in railroads and manufacturing
Enterprises to enable the State to carry
| such an amount of taxation as Will bt
necessary to pay this enormous sum and
provide for the interest that has accrued,
| md will accrue on it. Beside, the State
has not received any benefit, IN any way,
| from the objects for which such debt was
contracted. There is no mutually IN 1t
| there is no gWid pro guO; there Is no ele'
| ment of Justice in it to warrant Such :
| claim. There is a proposition IN II to TAX
| all the wealth and prosperity OF the new
| State which has been created by her Owl
economy and the Investments OF the
means of her individual citizens t.
nav this debt, and to paralyz'
ali her future energies to make TN
| State what she should be. We have mOr'
than once heard oil this debt-RtORopty and
What we have heard has come mainly IRON
the Hest DTrgiRi0 Dcmocrd God, save The
markD located in the eastern part OF TIN
Stale. Let il he whose organ 1t NAV ht
the conductor of that paper may have
attached his meretriciOus fortune to Dem
ocrats OF standing in that part of the State
Notthat they approve ofthis projected spoil
alton of our new commonwealth, but II IN
can accomplish the defeat Of men VINO VII
forever oppose such ruin Of our prosperity
he and his syndicate OF monopOilsis VII
have gained q march. West Virginia wan
no such m~oROpOiiStS TO corrupt her inteS
rity and waste here energies for the intnre
Republicansan and Democrats alik are bonn'
by all patriotic considerations to lay
heavy hand on any game OF plumber hk'
this A WEST NIRGINIAS,